Singapore retailers expanding into Johor Bahru (JB) will receive support from CapitaLand Investment (CLI) and the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA). Both parties will pilot retail concepts such as pop-ups, and organise knowledge-sharing sessions on Johor Bahru’s consumer landscape, under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed at the groundbreaking of Phase 2 of Coronation Square on May 7.
Spearheaded by Coronade Properties, Coronation Square is a RM5 billion ($1.61 billion) integrated development spanning 9.6 acres within Ibrahim International Business District (IIBD) under the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Construction has begun on the landmark project’s second phase, which includes a 1.25 million sq ft retail mall — the largest in the JB city centre — and two residential blocks.
Coronation Square Mall is expected to be completed in 2029. Themed “Coronation Square — Where the World Meets Johor”, the mall is positioned as a premium lifestyle destination, underpinned by strong cross-border connectivity, scale and integration within the wider development.
The mall will feature brands from “Malaysia, Singapore, the region and beyond” with a “day-to-night experience” anchored by a marketplace grocer, a diverse dining landscape and experiential offerings.
SRA vice-president Vivien Lim says: “Johor Bahru has emerged as one of the most accessible and promising markets for Singapore retailers looking to expand regionally. Through this collaboration with CLI, we aim to ensure our members are well-positioned to seize these opportunities with the right market insights and support.”
CLI’s managing director, retail management, commercial management (Singapore) Tan Mui Neo adds: “As Singapore’s largest mall operator with established retail platforms across Malaysia and China, CLI brings both regional scale and local expertise to this partnership… Through this MOU with SRA, we hope to take some of the uncertainty out of regional expansion, connecting retailers with the right market insights, opportunities and partners on the ground.”
CLI was appointed retail adviser for Coronation Square Mall in November 2025, while its lodging arm, The Ascott, will manage the hotel component at Coronation Square under its flagship Ascott brand.
Announced in August 2025, the five-star, 207-room Ascott Coronation Square Johor Bahru to be located in Tower 1 of Coronation Square will mark the brand’s JB debut. It is scheduled to open in 2H2029.
Where the world meets Johor
See also: Ascott to manage flagship hotel at Coronation Square in JS-SEZ
Located in the city centre of Johor Bahru, Coronation Square will enjoy direct connectivity to the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. Coronation Square will also be linked to the RTS station and Malaysia’s customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) complex via air-conditioned pedestrian overhead bridges.
The landmark integrated development is set to transform JB into a “vibrant regional destination”, as part of the JS‑SEZ, which is expected to “drive new investment, talent inflows and business activity”, reads a joint statement by Coronade Properties, SRA and CLI.
This makes Coronation Square “well-placed to capture both domestic demand and visitor traffic, creating a strong platform for regional and international retailers”, they add.
Patrick Lim, managing director of Coronade Properties, says: “Today’s groundbreaking marks the next phase of our vision to shape Johor Bahru into a connected and vibrant city centre. Coronation Square is designed as a ‘city within a city’, bringing together infrastructure, businesses and community within one integrated development.
Lim adds: “As we move into Phase 2 with Coronation Square Mall, we are building more than just retail — We are creating an ecosystem that supports businesses, creates jobs and serves the daily needs of the community.”
See also:
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Ascott to manage flagship hotel at Coronation Square in JS-SEZ
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